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Doctoral Degree Orientation Timetable

LSHTM Welcome Week 21-25 September 2026
  • All times are in UK time (BST).
  • Unless otherwise specified, sessions will be held in person at one of the following LSHTM locations:
  • Your programme timetable is below. Check back daily during Welcome Week for any updates.
  • View the Welcome Week Digital Guide (pdf) for an overview of School-wide sessions and activities.
  • Mobile users: Scroll right to view session locations.
Optional School-wide sessions & support

International Students’ Welcome

An optional opportunity for international students and those new to London to visit LSHTM and make connections ahead of Welcome Week. The event will feature in-person Life in London and Student Visa Responsibilities sessions, Q&A with past international students, Keppel Street building tours and a wellbeing social.

  • Thursday 17 September, 10:30-16:30 | Keppel Street

Life in London

If you are new to the UK or London and want to find out more about opening a bank account, accessing healthcare, additional housing costs/taxes and transport around London, join us for our webinar and Q&A, with an in-person option during International Students' Welcome.

  • Tuesday 25 August, 14:00-15:00 | Zoom
  • Thursday 17 September, 10:30-11:30 | KS-John Snow Lecture Theatre / Zoom

Student Visa Responsibilities

This presentation will cover Student visa holders’ responsibilities, updating contact details, attendance and engagement, working in the UK, travelling outside the UK, summer project, graduate route visa and travelling after your course has completed.

  • Tuesday 25 August, 15:00-15:30 | Zoom
  • Thursday 17 September, 11:30-12:00 | KS-John Snow Lecture Theatre / Zoom

Student Representation at LSHTM

Learn about the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and its Executive roles ahead of the upcoming elections, as well as other opportunities to represent your programme and student interests at LSHTM including Student & Digital Content Ambassadors and Centres Student Ambassadors.

  • Monday 21 September, 11:30-12:30, 14:00-15:00 | KS-LG24
  • Tuesday 22 September, 12:00-13:00 | KS-Manson Lecture Theatre

IT - Getting Started

Optional sessions for technical information and support with logging in and accessing LSHTM email, software, Wi-Fi and other IT systems and services. Please ensure you join from the start to benefit from the presentation, which will cover the answers to many frequently asked questions.

  • Monday 21 – Thursday 24 September, 11:00-12:00, 12:00-13:00, 14:00-15:00, 15:00-16:00 daily | KS-LG8

Introduction to Moodle

In this interactive session, you will be shown how to navigate and make the most of our Moodle online learning environment. Moodle is your go to platform for accessing programme and module information, assessment guidelines, and a wealth of resources. Whether you need to download documents, watch videos, or participate in forum discussions, Moodle has you covered. We’ll guide you through the steps to log in and find your way around the platform, how to effectively use key tools within Moodle to enhance your learning experience and be on hand to answer your questions.

  • Tuesday 22 September, 13:00-14:00, 15:00-16:00 | KS-LG24
  • Wednesday 24 September, 13:00-14:00, 14:00-15:00 | KS-LG24

Welcome Fair

Our Welcome Fair is the equivalent of a "freshers' fair", where you can find out more about the student services available to you and opportunities to get involved at LSHTM. Stands will be open throughout the event so drop in as your timetable allows, visit as many of the stands as you like and ask your questions. Full details of all the stands can be found on our Welcome Fair page.

Welcome Week Helpdesk

Get help from LSHTM staff & student ambassadors to check your timetable, locate your next session or answer any questions you have about Welcome Week.

  • Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September, 09:00-17:00 | KS-Pumphandle Social

Accommodation Helpdesk

The Accommodation Helpdesk is a drop-in service for students still looking for a place to live in London during their studies. Our team of former LSHTM students will be on hand to offer guidance in your search.

  • Monday 14 – Friday 25 September, 12:00-17:00 (Monday-Friday) | KS-e-Library
Social events & activities

Keppel Street building tours

Find your way around our main building and learn some of the history of LSHTM via a 45-minute tour with our Student Ambassadors. Each tour limited to 30 students, with places offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours will depart from the "Big Steps" in the Pumphandle Social, by the Welcome Week Helpdesk.

  • Monday 21 September tour times: 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30
  • Tuesday 22 September tour times: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00

Plant Pot Decorating

Come and choose a free succulent to add a touch of green to your accommodation, and brighten it up even more by decorating the pot. It's a relaxed chance to get creative and meet new people. Capacity 200 students on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Monday 21 September, 17:00-18:30 | KS-Pumphandle Social

Global Queer Film Club Screening

Join the Global Queer Film Club for a screening of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994, Australia, 104 mins). In this comedy-drama, two drag queens and a trans woman travel across the Australian outback to perform their unique style of cabaret. The Club, run by LSHTM’s LGBTQ+ Network, screens films weekly on Thursdays during Term 1 and hosts social events year-round.

  • Tuesday 22 September, 17:30-19:30 | KS-Manson Lecture Theatre

LSHTM Networking Challenge

Looking to meet people beyond your programme? Join us for a fun and interactive networking event where students can connect in a friendly and informal setting. Through guided networking activities, conversation prompts and a light-hearted bingo challenge, you'll meet new colleagues, share your academic and career journeys, and build connections that could last beyond your time at LSHTM. Capacity 200 students on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Wednesday 23 September, 17:00-18:30 | EC-Ground Floor Social Space

Pumphandle Bar

The Pumphandle Bar is a volunteer-run space for students, staff and visitors to come together, with cheap pints and alcoholic and non-alcoholic good times every Thursday and Friday during term time. All proceeds go towards the LSHTM Scholarship Fund, which supports students from low- to middle-income countries in attending LSHTM. Come down for the first night of the bar!

  • Thursday 24 September, 17:00-21:00 | KS-Pumphandle Bar

LSHTM Flea Market

Need a kettle? A coat? Some kitchenware to get you through term? Come explore the LSHTM Flea Market, run by our current SRC. This is a one-day pop-up where you can pick up useful, pre-loved items donated by outgoing students. It’s all free, first-come, first-served, and a great way to settle in sustainably.

  • Friday 25 September 12:30-14:00 | EC-Ground Floor Social Space

Welcome Week Party

A chance to celebrate with your new colleagues and friends. The evening will feature snacks, drinks & entertainment, including a photobooth, student world map and performance by the Pumphandle Blues Band (which has several LSHTM professors as members!). Taking place in the Pumphandle Social with G90 as a quieter, alcohol-free party space. This event is for LSHTM students & staff only; no external guests/children will be permitted.

  • Friday 25 September, 17:00-20:00 | KS-Pumphandle Social, KS-G90
KS - Keppel Street building | EC - Education Centre, Tavistock Place

Pre-Welcome Week events

  

Tuesday 25 August

  • 14:00 - 15:00 - Life in London
  • 15:30 - 15:30 - Student Visa Responsibilities
OptionalZoom webinar

Monday 14 - Friday 18 September

  • Accommodation Helpdesk
Optional drop-inKS-e-Library

Thursday 17 September - International Students' Welcome

  • 10:00 - 10:30 - Arrivals
  • 10:30 - 11:30 - Life in London & Student Visa Responsibilities (KS-John Snow Lecture Theatre / Zoom webinar)
  • 12:30 - 13:30 - Lunch break
  • 13:30 - 15:30 - Keppel Street building tours & Wellbeing social
  • 15:30 - 16:30 - International Students Q&A
Optional 

Monday 21 September

  
See guideIT - Getting StartedOptionalKS-LG2
See guideKeppel Street building toursOptionalKS-Pumphandle Social
09:00 - 17:00Welcome Week HelpdeskOptional drop-inKS-Pumphandle Social
11:30 - 12:30Student Representation at LSHTMOptionalKS-LG24 (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
12:00 - 17:00Accommodation HelpdeskOptional drop-inKS-e-Library
14:00 - 15:00Student Representation at LSHTMOptionalKS-LG24 (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
17:00 - 18:30Evening social: Plant Pot DecoratingOptionalKS-Pumphandle Social

Tuesday 22 September: Doctoral Degree Student Orientation

Room EC-311M, Education Centre, 15-17 Tavistock Place or join online*
See guideIT - Getting StartedOptionalKS-LG2
See guideIntroduction to MoodleOptionalKS-LG24
See guideKeppel Street building toursOptionalKS-Pumphandle Social
09:00 - 17:00Welcome Week HelpdeskOptional drop-inKS-Pumphandle Social
10:00 - 11:00DrPH 'Meet and Greet'DrPH onlyEC-212
11:00 - 11:30

Welcome to Doctoral Degrees @ LSHTM

Catherine Goodman, Dean of Doctoral College

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
11:30 - 11:45

Top tips for success

Joanna Schellenberg, Co-Director DrPH Programme

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
11:45 - 12:00

Research Governance and Ethics

Rebecca Carter, Research Governance & Integrity

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
12:00 - 12:30

Discussion in groups: Supervisor vs Supervisee Roles

Punam Mangtani, Professor in Epidemiology

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
12:30 - 12:45

Student Support Services

Ian Carter, Head of Student Support Services

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
12:45 - 13:00

Libraries, information and research

Russell Burke & Kathleen Perris, Library, Archive & Open Research Services

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
13:00 - 13:45

Lunch break

Lunch will be provided in Education Centre Ground Floor Social Space

All DD students 
13:45 - 14:00

Introduction to LSHTM

Liam Smeeth, Director of LSHTM

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
14:00 - 14:15

Community building and Students' Representative Council (SRC)

Tom Garvey, Student Experience
Preethi Lakshminarayanan, SRC VP for Doctoral Degrees

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
14:15 - 14:30

LSHTM travel policies

Sarah Sarpong, Overseas Safety
Izzy Murray, Sustainability Team

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
14:30 - 14:45

Introduction to IT Services

 

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
14:45 - 15:00

Final Q&A

Catherine Goodman, Dean of Doctoral College
Isolde Birdthistle, Co-Director DrPH Programme

All DD studentsEC-311M (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
15:30 - 16:30Doctoral Degrees RegistrationAll DD studentsKS-Library
16:00 - 17:00Support with Laptop SetupAll DD studentsKS-LG3
17:30 - 19:30Evening social: Global Queer Film Club ScreeningOptionalKS-Manson Lecture Theatre

Wednesday 23 September

  
See guideIT - Getting StartedOptionalKS-LG2
See guideIntroduction to MoodleOptionalKS-LG24
11:00 - 15:00Welcome FairSchool-wideKS-North Courtyard, KS-G90, KS-Pumphandle Social
12:00 - 17:00Accommodation HelpdeskOptional drop-inKS-e-Library
14:00 - 17:00DrPH Programme inductionDrPH onlyEC-215 (on campus)
Zoom* (online)
17:00 - 18:30Evening social: LSHTM Networking ChallengeOptionalKS-North Courtyard

Thursday 24 September

  
See guideIT - Getting StartedOptionalKS-LG2
10:00 - 12:00DrPH: 1-1 meetings with the Programme DirectorsDrPH onlyEC-215
12:00 - 14:00DrPH: Welcome lunch for students able to attend in personDrPH onlyEC-212
12:00 - 17:00Accommodation HelpdeskOptional drop-inKS-e-Library
14:00 - 16:00DrPH: 1-1 meetings with the Programme DirectorsDrPH onlyEC-215
17:00 - 21:00Evening social: Pumphandle BarOptionalKS-Pumphandle Bar

Friday 25 September

  
10:00 - 12:00DrPH: 1-1 meetings with the Programme DirectorsDrPH onlyEC-215
12:00 - 17:00Accommodation HelpdeskOptional drop-inKS-e-Library
12:30 - 14:30LSHTM Flea MarketOptional drop-inEC-Ground Floor
14:00 - 16:00DrPH: 1-1 meetings with the Programme DirectorsDrPH onlyEC-215
17:00 - 20:00Welcome Week Party for all new studentsOptionalKS-Pumphandle Social, KS-G90
*Zoom passwords will be emailed to all offer holders ahead of the sessions